After spending several years with the Pirates, who released him Aug. 5, it’s possible free-agent infielder Jung Ho Kang will resurface in the National League Central. Kang took infield practice with the Brewers’ Triple-A affiliate in San Antonio on Thursday, as journalist Joe Alexander noted. Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel corroborated Alexander’s report Friday, tweeting that Kang has been working out with the Brewers’ top farm club. Kang and the Brewers have not reached an agreement on a minor league contract yet, though, as general manager David Stearns said the two sides still have issues to work out, per Haudricourt. The once-valuable Kang, 32, is looking to rebuild his stock after batting a hideous .169/.222/.395 in 185 plate appearances with Pittsburgh this season.
Here’s more on a pair of other NL teams…
- Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo finally began a rehab assignment Friday at the Single-A level, Tim Healey of Newsday was among those to report. A bulging disc in Nimmo’s neck has shelved him since May 21, meaning it’s likely he’ll need a solid amount of time to work back, as Healey notes. The Mets have charged into playoff contention in recent weeks despite Nimmo’s absence, though they’ve since lost fellow noteworthy position players Jeff McNeil, Robinson Cano and Dominic Smith to the injured list. Unlike McNeil and Smith, Nimmo was in the throes of a surprisingly difficult season when he went down. After getting on base at a .404 clip and totaling 4.5 fWAR during what looked like a breakout 2018, the 26-year-old Nimmo came out of the gates this season with a .200/.344/.323 line and 0.2 fWAR in 161 PA.
- Cano and closer Edwin Diaz, the Mets’ two biggest winter acquisitions, have joined Nimmo in enduring trying seasons. The Mets expected the great track records of Cano and Diaz to carry to their organization when they picked up the two during the offseason in a blockbuster trade with the Mariners. Instead, they’ve struggled, and the top best prospects the Mets surrendered – outfielder Jarred Kelenic and righty Justin Dunn – have excelled, as David Schoenfield of ESPN.com observes. Kelenic and Dunn were already well-regarded prospects at the time of the deal, but their stocks have only risen this season. Both players reflected on the swap with Schoenfield, Kelenic saying: “I looked up at a TV and my name was up there as a rumor. I was like, ’Are you kidding me? Is anyone else seeing this?'” Kelenic was in disbelief the Mets were set to move him just a few months after choosing him sixth overall in the draft. As for Dunn, a Long Island native, he understands why general manager Brodie Van Wagenen dealt him. “He had to do what was best for the organization,” Dunn stated, adding that “he had to do the right move for his team, which was to try and win now.”
- Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez departed the team’s loss to St. Louis on Friday with a left thumb sprain, per an announcement from Cincinnati. X-rays came back negative on Suarez, who’s day-to-day. The big-hitting 28-year-old’s production has taken steps back this season compared to 2018. However, Suarez has still slashed a more-than-respectable .259/.341/.530 with 33 home runs in 504 PA, further justifying the Reds’ decision to hand him a seven-year, $66MM extension prior to last season.
Hmmm. Kang. Interesting!
Don’t blame me, I voted for Kodos.
Excellent
Yeah…those kind of numbers certainly justify the team friendly contract that the guy has. And btw, he’s thrilled to be playing in Cincinnati like many other players there. You’re condescending view of him uncalled for.
And before anyone responds, Suarez is one of the top 3rd savers in the game with the glove and stick….
Lol. There is nothing condescending about saying his production isn’t as good as 2018, but he’s still been a good player, that’s just stating reality
I think he will be back to his 2018 numbers next year.
TRIGGERED!!!
Suarez is one of the top 3b’s in the game and having a great season. Hes been a great 3b for years. If he were on the Yankees, mlbtr would have multiple articles about how great he is and how great the organizations Analytics team is for finding him and getting him so cheaply.
Cain needs to get things going. He’s pounding everything into the ground for months. Dude needs to elevate something! Kripes!
Is it really a wise sign for a player with a possible drinking problem to sign in Milwaukee lol
It’s not any easier to buy booze in Milwaukee just because they make a bunch of crappy lagers there than it is anywhere else.
You may have missed that was a joke. Brewers….beer… sheesh. Never mind.
By all accounts, he’s cleaned himself up. Feel badly for the guy. A dirty slide ruined his career and sent him into a personal downward spiral. Hope someone with the Brewers can help him resurrect his career.
Agree on the dirty slide 100%. Whether it caused anything personally, who’s to know.
In light of Kang’s history, I fully expect to see him coming down Bernie’s slide wearing a toga at some point.
Suarez has taken steps back ??? Please take your hate somewhere else ! He is on par to at least repeat last years numbers !
I’m a Reds nut and didn’t derive anything negative about that quip. Going by qualitative stats, he’s not quite on par with what he did last year. I might’ve worded it a bit differently, but Mr. Byrne is in no way saying Suarez is on the down turn
Brewers trying to make Shaw feel better by bringing in someone almost as awful with the bat as he’s been this year?
Or to be his personal hitting coach..?
Never mind. Stopped being lazy and looked it up!
Sorry, wrong post!
Reds getting great production for a more then reasonable contract. Thrilled we have him for at least 5 more years. Great trade with Detroit. Fleeced them big time. Alberto Simon!
As the team improves, so will Geno. He has been placing too much of the production burden on himself. Having The Punisher hitting behind him helps immensely. As others step up he can relax and just beisbol. Great team friendly contract.
He got hosed on that check swing yesterday. It could have gone either way, but that’s a bad way to end a game…